Pipe clamping device

Abstract

A clamping device is disclosed for coupling peripheral flanges of a pair of tubular members together. The clamping device has a retaining member for coupling the peripheral flanges of the tubular member together, with first and second coupling ends being releasably coupled together by a latch assembly from an open position to a closed position. The latch assembly has a connecting member with a pivoting end and an anchoring end. The pivoting end of the connecting member is pivotally coupled to the first coupling end about a pivot axis between an unengaged position where the anchoring end is spaced from the second coupling end and an engaged position where the anchoring end is removably coupled to the second coupling end. The latch assembly further has a retention member coupled to the pivoting end of the connecting member for retaining the connecting member to the first coupling end. The retention member is deformable from an original shape to a final shape during installation of the connecting member being initially pivoted about the pivot axis from the unengaged position to the engaged position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A clamping device for coupling peripheral flanges of a pair of tubular members together, comprising: retainer means for coupling the peripheral flanges of the tubular members together, and having first and second coupling ends movably coupled together from an open position to a closed position;   a connecting member having a pivoting end and an anchoring end with said pivoting end being pivotally coupled to said first coupling end about a pivot axis between an unengaged position where said anchoring end is spaced from said second coupling end and an engaged position where said anchoring end is removably coupled to said second coupling end; and   retention means, coupled to said pivoting end of said connecting member, for maintaining said connecting member coupled to said first coupling end, said retention means being deformable from an original shape to a final shape in response to said connecting member being initially pivoted about said pivot axis from said unengaged position to said engaged position.   
     
     
       2. A clamping device according to claim 1, wherein said retention means comprises a retention member having a collar and an elongated portion.   
     
     
       3. A clamping device according to claim 1, wherein said elongated portion is straight in said original shape and bent in said final shape.   
     
     
       4. A clamping device according to claim 3, wherein said connecting member includes a bolt having a rod and a head, wherein said collar engages said rod.   
     
     
       5. A clamping device according to claim 4, wherein said elongated portion is sized to surround said head of said bolt when in said final shape.   
     
     
       6. A clamping device according to claim 5, wherein said bolt is a T-bolt.   
     
     
       7. A clamping device according to claim 6, wherein said connecting member has a fastening member movably coupled to said anchoring end of said bolt for tightening said connecting member and for moving said first and second coupling ends toward each other.   
     
     
       8. A clamping device according to claim 7, wherein said retention means further comprises means for temporarily securing said bolt in said engaged position.   
     
     
       9. A clamping device according to claim 8, wherein said means for temporarily securing comprises a detent on a spring element.   
     
     
       10. A clamping device comprising: a retainer having first and second coupling ends movably coupled together from an open position to a closed position, respectively, said first coupling end having a first opening and a second opening;   a connecting member positioned between said first and second openings, said connecting member having a pivoting end and an anchoring end with a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, said pivoting end having a first pivoting element pivotally coupled to said first opening and a second pivoting element pivotally coupled to said second opening to pivot said connecting member about a pivot axis between an unengaged position with said anchoring end being spaced from said second coupling end and an engaged position with said anchoring end being removably coupled to said second coupling end, said second opening of said first coupling end being sized to receive said connecting member between said first and second openings by allowing movement of said connecting member in a direction substantially parallel to said pivot axis to engage and disengage said second pivot element from said first opening; and   a retention member coupled to said pivoting end of said connecting member for prohibiting movement of said connecting member in a direction parallel to said pivot axis.   
     
     
       11. A clamping device according to claim 10, wherein said second opening is a slot which opens away from said second retainer end.   
     
     
       12. A clamping device according to claim 11, wherein said first opening is a substantially closed circular aperture.   
     
     
       13. A clamping device according to claim 12, wherein each of said first and second pivoting elements are cylindrical and sized to be received within said circular aperture and said slot, respectively.   
     
     
       14. A clamping device according to claim 13, wherein said connecting member comprises a bolt.   
     
     
       15. A clamping device according to claim 14, wherein said bolt is a T-bolt having a head forming said first and second pivoting elements.   
     
     
       16. A clamping device according to claim 15, wherein said retention member is coupled to said pivoting end of said bolt between said first and second openings of said retainer.   
     
     
       17. A clamping device according to claim 16, wherein said retention member has a collar and an elongated portion.   
     
     
       18. A clamping device according to claim 17, wherein said T-bolt further has a rod adjacent said head, wherein said collar engages said rod.   
     
     
       19. A clamping device according to claim 18, wherein said elongated portion surrounds said head of said T-bolt.   
     
     
       20. A clamping device according to claim 19, further comprising: a fastening member coupled to said anchoring end of said bolt for tightening said bolt and for moving said first and second coupling ends toward each other.   
     
     
       21. A clamping device according to claim 16, wherein said retention member has a locking member that removably secures said fastener in said engaged position.   
     
     
       22. A clamping device according to claim 21, wherein said locking member comprises a detent on a spring element.   
     
     
       23. A method of forming a clamping device comprising the steps of: providing a retainer having first and second coupling ends pivotally coupled together from an open position to a closed position, said first coupling end having first and second mounting members with first and second openings, respectively, said first coupling end further having a pivot axis extending through said mounting members,   inserting a fastener between said mounting members of said retainer, said fastener having a pivoting end and an anchoring end with a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, said pivoting end having first and second pivoting elements, said fastener being inserted into said retainer by moving said first pivoting element substantially along said pivot axis to engage said securing portion, and to pivotally couple said fastener to said first retainer end such that said fastener can pivot about said pivot axis between an unengaged position where said anchoring end is spaced from said second retainer end to an engaged position where said anchoring end is removably coupled to said second retainer end; and   coupling a retention member to said pivoting end of said fastening member to prohibit said pivoting end from being accidentally removed from said first retainer end, said retention member coupled to said pivoting end between said first and second mounting members to prohibit movement of said fastener in a direction along said pivot axis.   
     
     
       24. A method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of pivoting said fastener and said retention member coupled thereto about said pivot axis from said open position toward said closed position to deform a portion of said retention member.   
     
     
       25. A method according to claim 24, further comprising the step of further pivoting said fastener and said retention member coupled thereto about said pivot axis to said closed position automatically further deforming a portion of said retention member.   
     
     
       26. A method according to claim 25, further comprising the step of tightening a fastening member to said fastener to pivot said first and second retainer ends toward each other.   
     
     
       27. A clamping device for coupling a pair of tubular members together, comprising: a retainer having first and second coupling ends movably coupled together between an open position and a closed position, said first coupling end having first and second mounting members with first and second mounting openings, respectively; and   a latch assembly releasably coupling said first and second ends together between a latched position and an unlatched position, said latch assembly including a connecting member having a pivoting end with first and second pivot elements pivotally coupled to said first coupling end of said retainer and an anchoring end operatively engageable with said second coupling end of said retainer,   retention member coupled to said pivoting end of said connecting member and located between said first and second mounting members, said retention member extending from said pivoting end of said connecting member towards said anchoring end of said connecting member and overlapping a portion of said anchoring end, and   a tightening member movably coupled to said anchoring end of said connecting member.